10-24-2006, 05:36 AM
Before I reply, to save needless aggravation I should say this will be mostly D2 (or D2 type of games)oriented. Though I did play TQ for a while at a friends house, not enough to reach the highest difficulty mode, but enough to get the basic general feel for it. Most of what I've found is fairly similar to Thecla's assesment. I was looking forward to the character creation system, but in practice I've found it a bit lacking. I've played and enjoyed games that doesn't use a strict archetype system (IE: Fallout), but for some reason TQ system just didn't quite cut it for me. It's not total garbage, but it did feel lacking somehow.
If my complaint with D2 treasure system is that it's suffering from some affix dilution, TQ has some quality dilution. I have to carefully word this, because if past discussion is any indication in about 5 minutes there will be some angry reply saying, " well guy, not every treasure drop should be ph4t lewt!!!11, go curb your greed you goatmilker!!!'.
The point is not about getting phat l00tz in every encounter producing boredom by riches, but it's also equally ridicilous to have players slog through a virtual pauper's existence and frustration unless the game is relying on a large number of masochistic players. The hard to do balance is probably somewhere where players don't need to worry too much about gear to survive, yet not so obscenely rich and powerful that when that fabled Golden Axe of Godslaying Pwn4ge +5 drops his\her reaction will be 'yawn...should I make room for yet another one of these things?' Nor should it be extremely rare AND extremely powerful that it practically becomes among other problems, a siren call for online cheating.
Anyway, on to mostly D2 stuff.
> -If random map spawns create more replayability/fun, why do so many people use Maphack?
Replayability is not the same as total duration, a great 1 hour long movie does not become a masterpiece by adding another hour's worth of filler. imo most of the jungle parts of Act 3 is tedious filler, randomly generated or not, especially in context of the mandatory quest and the waypoint system. Which I think are equally big problems in a lot of ways.
Most viewers if they have a choice will probably hit the skip\fastforward\change channel button, or leave if it's in a theatre (or snooze through the boring part). These days the more creative type armed with the right tools can release a 'fan's cut' if they feel there is something worthwhile in the source material. (Or maybe I'm just thinking of that fan's version of StarWars ep: 1 with Jar Jar digitally removed.)
I am saying D2 could have benefitted greatly with more ruthless editing, especially during Act 3.
If my complaint with D2 treasure system is that it's suffering from some affix dilution, TQ has some quality dilution. I have to carefully word this, because if past discussion is any indication in about 5 minutes there will be some angry reply saying, " well guy, not every treasure drop should be ph4t lewt!!!11, go curb your greed you goatmilker!!!'.
The point is not about getting phat l00tz in every encounter producing boredom by riches, but it's also equally ridicilous to have players slog through a virtual pauper's existence and frustration unless the game is relying on a large number of masochistic players. The hard to do balance is probably somewhere where players don't need to worry too much about gear to survive, yet not so obscenely rich and powerful that when that fabled Golden Axe of Godslaying Pwn4ge +5 drops his\her reaction will be 'yawn...should I make room for yet another one of these things?' Nor should it be extremely rare AND extremely powerful that it practically becomes among other problems, a siren call for online cheating.
Anyway, on to mostly D2 stuff.
> -If random map spawns create more replayability/fun, why do so many people use Maphack?
Replayability is not the same as total duration, a great 1 hour long movie does not become a masterpiece by adding another hour's worth of filler. imo most of the jungle parts of Act 3 is tedious filler, randomly generated or not, especially in context of the mandatory quest and the waypoint system. Which I think are equally big problems in a lot of ways.
Most viewers if they have a choice will probably hit the skip\fastforward\change channel button, or leave if it's in a theatre (or snooze through the boring part). These days the more creative type armed with the right tools can release a 'fan's cut' if they feel there is something worthwhile in the source material. (Or maybe I'm just thinking of that fan's version of StarWars ep: 1 with Jar Jar digitally removed.)
I am saying D2 could have benefitted greatly with more ruthless editing, especially during Act 3.